Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISLB121124p

Incident date

November 12, 2024

Location

منطقة معالي، الهرمل, Maali area, Hermel, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, Lebanon

Geolocation

34.395978, 36.394626 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child and four militants were reported killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a residence in the city of Hermel in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on 12 November, 2024.

Though the residence reportedly belonged to the Shait family, the named casualties came from other families. One of those killed was Wael Hamad Haskawi, a child. Of those reportedly injured, Daas Muhammad Dandash and Hamzah Muhammad Dandash were named.

Social media users encouraged prayers for the recovery of the injured, with Facebook user Oula Nasserdine asking friends to “recite Surah al-Fatihah [the first chapter of the Quran] for the speedy recovery” of the Dandash brothers. Attached were two photographs of Daas and Hamzah, both young men. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Sources diverged on the exact number of the injured. While Alghad Breaking and the Facebook page for Hermel City posited four had been wounded, X/Twitter user @Sa7atPIBreaking and Al-Mayadeen News suggested six. Most other sources reported eight; it is likely the figure was updated as more information became available.

The strike also killed several Hezbollah members, including Mahmoud Ismail, Abbas Mohammad Dandash, Ali Hussein Shaalan and Alaa Ali Haj Hassan, according to a poster shared by Facebook user Abu Rida al-Eraji memorialising those killed alongside the Hezbollah logo. Wael Haskawi is also seen on the poster, though because of his age, he has been categorised as a civilian. It is likely the poster was meant as commemoration to all killed in the strike, which would include Wael. While all the others shown on the poster are pictured against Hezbollah “memorial backdrops”, Wael is not. Beyond Wael, none of the above have been counted in civilian casualty figures.

Videos shared after the strike showed extensive residential damage. Lebanese Forces News shared footage to X/Twitter showing a partially collapsed home, with smoke plumes still emanating.  A photograph shared by several social media users, including X/Twitter user @Tasnimarabic showed extensive smoke rising above the targeted location.

This is Lebanon News reported that the strike consisted of “two missiles” after which “Red Cross and Heath Authority vehicles rushed to the scene”. It is unclear from the report whether the airstrike occurred in the Al-Kaidiya or Maali neighbourhood.

Where sources named a belligerent, all pointed to the Israeli military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Daas Muhammad Dandash دعاس محمد دندش
Adult male injured
Hamzah Muhammad Dandash حمزة محمد دندش
Adult male injured

The victims were named as:

Wael Hamad Haskawi وائل حمد حسكاوي
Child male killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Maali area (منطقة معالي) in Hermel (الهرمل). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 34.395978, 36.394626.

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  • Imagery:
    @LebForcesNews

  • Imagery:
    @LebForcesNews

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (76) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

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Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (76) [ collapse]